Episode 1: Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) for Global Connectivity

[@henrikhellstrom1241]

Thank you for the podcast, Aryan and Zeeshan! I'm curious to hear your thoughts on energy efficiency in UAVs. Basestations already consume a significant amount of energy for their operations, and that is while being directly connected to power grids. I imagine that in UAVs, the price per watt will be significantly higher, which should place a higher emphasis on the energy efficiency of wireless protocols. Are you aware of any interesting work in this direction?

[@ProfessorShakir]

Hi there! Thanks for tuning in to our podcast. You've raised some excellent points about the need to transition to a net-zero paradigm for the next generation of telecom networks. It's true that many current small cell base stations draw power from the grid, which isn't sustainable in the long run. Your Q about energy-efficient solutions for pop-up networks, especially flying platforms, are spot on. Small flying platforms indeed have limited battery power, while larger ones like High-Altitude Platforms (HAPs) can leverage solar energy for onboard transceivers. It's crucial to explore multiple solutions, such as wireless battery charging, energy-efficient architecture (like edge processing), and designing energy-efficient wireless protocols. There are research efforts into charging flying platforms' batteries with Free-Space Optics (FSO) while they're in flight. Additionally, the concept of these platforms latching onto stations with energy solutions or charging capabilities has now become possible. It's all about optimizing energy usage and sustainability in the evolving telecom landscape. Hope this helps. Thanks

[@henrikhellstrom1241]

Very exciting! Sounds like a great area of research. Thank you for the detailed answer, @@ProfessorShakir